What operation is performed by the '%' operator in Python?

The '%' operator in Python is used to perform a modulus operation, which calculates the remainder of the division between two numbers. When you divide one number by another, the modulus operator provides the part of the dividend that remains after the division has been carried out. For instance, in the expression 10 % 3, the result would be 1, because when you divide 10 by 3, it goes 3 times (making 9) with a remainder of 1.

This operation is particularly useful in programming for a variety of tasks, such as determining if a number is even or odd, cycling through indices in data structures, and managing conditions based on remainders in algorithms. The modulus operator is a fundamental concept in Python, as it allows for versatile applications in numerical computations and control flows.